Protests and Assemblies
What is and is not allowed?
Allowed:
Peaceful assemblies: Assembling in groups for peaceful rallies, demonstrations, and gatherings on parts of the university campus that are designated public forums and comply with applicable policy guidelines.
Countering speech: The First Amendment encourages speech and counter speech, and you may exercise your own First Amendment rights to counter someone else’s speech with your own, provided it does not interfere with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or exercise their right to free speech.
Events: Authorized organizations may reserve spaces on campus and in campus facilities for events. The sponsoring organization and participants must comply with law enforcement and CSU’s relevant policies and event guidelines.
Chalking: In certain designated locations, you may express yourself with washable chalk (no spray chalk or paint) on horizontal concrete ground (no steps, paving stones, buildings, or walls). Please check applicable policies beforehand to learn where chalking is or is not permitted.
Posters: Only posters that are sponsored by registered student organizations or an official university unit or department are allowed in designated areas, with university permission.
Silent and symbolic protests: Displaying a sign in certain locations on campus, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing, or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access to facilities. In addition, such acts should not block an audience’s view or prevent the audience from being able to pay attention to a lawful assembly or an official university event.
Campaigning: CSU encourages its students, faculty, staff, and other community members to participate in political discourse, enlightenment and action, and welcomes these activities to our campuses. As a public university system of the State of Colorado, CSU is subject to the limitations of the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act — FCPA — which generally prohibits CSU and other public entities from expending any public money for contributions to a campaign for elected office or from urging electors to vote in favor or against any ballot issue or referred measures. Employees and students are free to express their political opinions when speaking or writing as individuals in their personal capacity and not as a representative of an institution.
Not Allowed:
Unlawful activity.
Disruptive activity: Any act that unreasonably interferes with the rights of others to peaceably assemble or to exercise the right of free speech, disrupts normal functioning of the university, damages property, interferes with a university event or function, or endangers health or safety is specifically prohibited.
Blocking reasonable access: The university is required by law to provide and maintain reasonable access to, and exit from, any office, classroom, laboratory, or building. This access must not be obstructed at any time.
Silencing or attempting to silence a speaker.
Preventing others from seeing or hearing at an event: Displaying a sign, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing, or otherwise protesting silently is permissible unless it is a disruptive activity or impedes access to facilities. In addition, such acts should not block an audience’s view or prevent the audience from being able to pay attention to a lawful assembly or an official university event.
Unsafe items: Displaying firearms or weapons and illegal possession of firearms or weapons, as well as possession of torches or other items with an open flame greater than one inch, sticks, poles, shields or other items that may be used to cause injury is prohibited. People may carry signs or flags as long as those signs or flags are not attached to a stick or pole. In addition, depending upon the event and its location, the university may have additional restrictions that limit the possession of other items.
Unpermitted events outside public hours: Using campus public areas, including the LSC Plaza area, for events, demonstrations, meetings, assemblies, or other expressive activity before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., without a prior reservation for an official university event that has been approved by the university, is prohibited.
Posting signs, posters, or banners of any kind on campus trees. It’s just hard on the trees and wildlife.
Posting signs, posters, or banners without official permission or in areas not designated for this purpose.
Disrupting classes. Classroom speech is different from speech in public forum areas. Certain types of speech aren’t allowed, including any activity that interferes with a faculty member’s ability to conduct class.